Volume 12 - CH 12

Sixth day of the trip, Yuuji and his group finally crossed the pass and reached the inn town.

The inntown as it was visible before their eyes had lined up around hundred buildings.

Although smaller than the fourth inntown Yagiri-Nyon that was right before the mountain pass, it seemed to be larger than the other inntowns. The reason must be their decision on choosing their location which is possible for traffic to the royal capital is possible in one day if one were to use horses.

Currently the group has been stranded due to their reports to the gate guards.

They readily were given approval to enter the city, but they were reporting regarding the bandits they encountered in the mountain pass, their hideout and their extermination.

“Now, Aias, please take this and travel to the royal capital. This person will be accompanying you it seems”

“Understood”

Who mainly dealt with the gate guards was Kevin. That Kevin gave instructions to one of his exclusive escorts, Aias. It appears that he will be travelling to the royal capital quickly to report. In order to accompany him, one of the gate guards led out a horse.

“Now the everyone, please make doubly sure not to be discerned”

Leaving those words behind at the end, Kevin moved forward with the carriage.

Although it took some time, Yuuji and company set foot into the final inn town.

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“Mr Kevin, what was that just now?”

One of the rooms of the inn which Kevin had arranged.

This day the purposely took a large room; all of the ten people and one dog seemed to be staying in one room. He made the choice due to the absence of a person with the role of a guard and Alice’s brother Charles and wolfkin Denis’s mind and body being unstable.

Setting aside the still nine year old Alice and twelve year old elven girl Riese, seamster Yurshelle is a woman.

However, the one being worried, saying “is it okay to be in the same room?” was only Yuuji. Both the men and, in fact, even Yurshelle herself did not seem to understand why Yuuji brought up that sort of question. Apart from if one is a noble, a large number of people staying the night in the same room is a natural thing for the country-bred Yurshelle. Natural enough to be delighted with a spacious room instead.

Nevertheless, it seems Yuuji has learned some tact. He improved.

Kevin, who caught Yuuji’s question, looked at the door, and then watched Enzo.

Enzo nodded, as if to say “no problem.”

And then Kotarou barked once. There’s no one here, she seemingly wanted to say.

Seeing those reactions, finally Kevin began his explanation.

“Mr Yuuji. How do you think bandits aim for us?”

“Eh? That goes like this, they discover us ahead and decide whether they attack or not just like that time right?”

“Yes, they may have that means. Now then, Mr Denis had said it wasn’t long after they started using that hideout, but what do you think is the reason why they hid in such a remote place?”

“To… uh, hunt for food? Also from the luggage they struck…”

Yuuji answered with sinking confidence.

*Wan wan* Kotarou barked. As if to say that won’t go conveniently.

“That may work out if they’re lucky. But a subjugation party will be organized. In order to obtain that information… Mr Yuuji, the bandits have a collaborator. Due to them being able to earn recompense by actively collaborating with them, or there are also cases where they are threatened into it though”

“Eh?”

“The gate guards gave me the information of collaborators. It seems this town and the royal capital has some. Hence we will be advancing early”

“Huh, really...Huh? Since when did you get such information? Mr Denis kept sleeping since then, and Charles-kun too…”

Yuuji said, and inclined his head.

“It’s because my exclusive escort and I had been talking with the bandit while Aias remained at the carriage and you rushed into the hideout after”

Kevin’s eyes shined as he smiled broadly.

It appears that Kevin had talked with the bandit at the time when nobody was watching at a place where nobody was watching. “Please leave the settlement of this to us” was what Kevin said, but this must have also been part of the settlement of the situation. The “Fighting peddler” appeared to be more dangerous than his nickname.

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“... How is it?”

“There should be no problems with little Charles. As for Mr Denis… Mr Enzo, Mr Salomon, what do you think?”

“His breathing is stable and he doesn’t have a fever. He just lost too much blood, didn’t he? He’ll recover if you make him take medicine and let him eat meat once he wakes up, I’d say.”

Although Charles woke up once, he fell asleep again. Denis had yet to wake up ever since he lost consciousness at the bandit hideout.

Kevin and Enzo so answered to give Yuuji and Alice, who were anxious about their conditions, some relief. Premie city adventurers guild master Salomon nodded in agreement to the two.

“Is that so...Mr Kevin, what will we do? Will we stay in this town for a while and wait for the two to recover?”

“I’m thinking about departing to the royal capital once Aias returns. I’ve got a hold of medicine, but there doesn’t seem to be any doctors in this town, so... they bring people who are suddenly taken ill to the royal capital or so they said”

“Really… I wonder if it’ll be alright?”

“...Don’t worry about me. Please go”

A hoarse voice reached Yuuji’s ears.

“Mister Denis! Mister Denis!”

Who went towards the awakened Denis faster than anybody else was Alice. With the same momentum, she jumped at Denis, who was lying on the bed.

“Alice, you’ve grown up… Sorry Alice. The two and Basil are…”

Holding Alice’s shoulders, Denis grimaced.

“I heard it from Charles-nii”

Alice pushed her head against Denis with turning movements, burying into his fur. She is a strong child. No, this world’s values might be like this however.

“Mr Denis, please take this medicine. Let’s go eat if it goes well. The bandits have been exterminated, the search for their collaborators have been arranged and Charles-kun has been saved. Please let us hear the full details after you recover your strength”

“You’re quite prepared… I see, so it was the result of Gaegus company. Thank you”

Denis gulped down the medicine that was handed over by Kevin. He slowly closed his eyes and once again said out loud.

“You transported us in your carriage didn’t you? Go to the royal capital if you can. Setting me aside, I want to let the doctor see Charles quickly”

“Mister Denis! Alice talked with Charles-nii! Charles-nii is okay!”

“Is that so, I’m glad then… Those days were not futile I guess…”

Tears spilled from the lying Denis’s eyes.

“Mr Yuuji, now let us stay here like this today and depart tomorrow as soon as Aias returns”

“Alright. ‘Riese, he said we’ll depart to the royal capital tomorrow’ “

‘Okay…’

Riese answered with a small voice and slightly hanging her head.

The journey would probably be over there if they arrive at the royal capital and meet the elven adventurer. Perhaps she felt lonely; she was not as energetic as when they departed.

Approaching Riese, Kotarou stood on her hind legs, putting her forelegs on Riese. It will be lonely, but smile until the end, she seemingly said to cheer her up. She is a gentle girl. She is a dog though. And the nails on her forelegs was stuck on Riese’s clothes, making small holes in her clothes.

Sixth day of their trip.

The last evening to the royal capital, Alice was sleeping clasping the hands of Charles and Riese, together on a bed that was in the large room.

Next to Riese was Kotarou and Yuuji.

While Salomon, Enzo and Kevin’s exclusive escort were standing watch in turns, the sixth night went on.